Chapter 32: Gintama (Cosmic Arc)

Okakura Take woke to find the pain in her abdomen had eased considerably. This was her first menstruation. Her mother had once explained such things to her, but she hadn’t expected the much-delayed moment to arrive under such circumstances.

She moved slightly, feeling a dull ache from the wounds on her body, but it was within her tolerance.

Dawn had broken and the room was empty. Afuto, who had watched over her until morning, had left for breakfast. Take lay quietly in bed, pondering how to escape this street, and then, how to leave this planet.

But to get off Kurota, she’d have to face Harusame. If just one Kamui had beaten her so badly, what would happen if she encountered their main forces? She might not even survive.

At that moment, a maid entered. She changed Take’s bandages, applied fresh medicine, and fed her breakfast before leaving.

Take lifted the quilt and carefully got out of bed. Testing her movements, she found she could move well enough.

She walked to the full-length mirror and lifted her clothes. Her reflection was grim—her face was covered in gauze and plasters, and her body was a tapestry of bruises and scars.

“How pitiful,” Take said to her reflection.

“It really is,” came a voice.

Startled, Take spun around to see Kamui lounging on the sofa diagonally opposite her, smiling. His large blue eyes blinked, giving him a delicate appearance—but after their fight yesterday, Take knew all too well what a terrifying monster hid beneath that fair skin.

What annoyed her even more was that, despite how badly she’d beaten Kamui yesterday, his wounds had all but vanished by today. The Yato race, though vulnerable to sunlight, possessed unmatched strength, endurance, recovery, and overall combat ability.

Take let go of her clothes and approached Kamui, looking down at him. “What do you want?”

The cockroach-like antennae on Kamui’s head twitched as he looked her over. “Still bleeding? Down there?”

His remark made Take acutely aware of the blood flowing from her, and she stepped back, both embarrassed and angry. “That’s none of your business.”

“Earth girl, do you want to leave here?” Kamui asked.

Take eyed him warily. Of course she wanted to leave, but coming from him, it sounded suspicious.

“I do,” she replied.

Kamui stood, closing the distance between them. He was half a head taller than Take, and he looked down at her. “I can help you get out of here.”

Take didn’t like being so close to him and stepped back. “Why would you do that?”

“Out of curiosity. I want to see what you’ll become if you leave for the universe—if you’ll grow stronger or simply get killed. Earth girl, are you willing to try? Leave this small planet and see the wider cosmos. You have the potential to become strong, and I like fighting strong people.”

“Are you willing to leave?”

Willing? Of course she was. Take glanced at Kamui; his handsome face wore a gentle, friendly smile.

“Let me think about it. By the way, you’re a strange person,” Take couldn’t help saying. “You’re always smiling,”—even when she was pinning him to the ground and pounding his face, the corners of his mouth had been upturned, as if he took pleasure in the pain.

“Smiling is my form of etiquette. Even when killing, I must send them off with a smile, so they can die peacefully.”

“Is that so?” Take made no further comment on his ways.

“Have you made up your mind?” Kamui asked.

“I accept. But before I leave, there’s something I want to do,” Take said.

“What is it?”

“I want to see those two girls who escaped. Can I?”

“Certainly. I’ll give you three days. After three days, meet me at the spaceport. I’ll be waiting, Earth girl—Okakura Take.”

Take finally left Black Street. Once outside, she took a taxi straight to the Bone Guild to find Tettana. Upon seeing her, Tettana stared for a moment before rushing over and hugging her. “Take, you’re back too! That’s wonderful!”

“Tettana, do you know where Coco and Nini are?” Take asked.

“I do. They contacted me after they got back and told me everything.”

“Can you take me to see them?” Take requested.

“Of course! Let’s go—Kodo has a car, he’ll drive us,” Tettana replied.

“Alright.”

The two of them got into Kodo’s car. He drove in front while Take and Tettana chatted in the back.

“How are Coco and Nini?” Take asked.

“Nini developed a high fever from an infected wound and is still weak. She’s in the hospital on an IV, but she’s awake now. Coco is fine and taking care of her,” Tettana said, then looked Take over with concern. “Take, how did you escape? Are you alright?”

Hearing this, Kodo glanced at Take in the rearview mirror.

Take smiled and shook her head. “I’m fine. I had food and rest. After finding Coco and Nini, I got into a fight, then left.”

“I saw your injuries—did they hit you?” Tettana asked, looking at her bruised face.

Take touched the plaster on her cheek; the swelling had gone down, and she healed quickly. “Don’t worry, Tettana. The person who hit me, I gave it right back. I’m really fine—you see, I’m here in front of you, aren’t I?”

After chatting for a long while, they reached the hospital. Nini had been moved to a regular ward. When Take and the others entered, Nini was lying in bed eating fruit while Coco read her a magazine.

“Coco, Nini,” Take greeted.

Bang—Coco stood up so abruptly she knocked over her chair. She dashed over and hugged Take, bursting into tears.

“Take, Take, Take…” Coco clung to her, sobbing her name.

Take patted her back, comforting her. “Coco, I’m alright. Don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry—I left you behind after you saved me. I’m so sorry,” Coco wept. Since returning from Black Street, she’d thought of Take every day—of what Nini had suffered, or if Take might face even worse. The guilt haunted her.

“I’m fine, Coco. Given the situation then, it was best that you and Nini escaped. Don’t cry—let me see Nini.”

Coco finally let go. Take went to the bedside and sat. Nini looked at her and silently shed tears. “Take, when you rescued me from the cage, I heard your voice. I heard you calling, ‘Nini, Nini.’”

Take pulled some tissues from the bedside and wiped Nini’s tears. “Why are you all crying? I’m fine, really. No more tears.”

“Thank you, Take. Thank you for rescuing me, for saving me from that dark place. Thank you, Take…” Nini couldn’t hold back any longer and threw herself into Take’s arms, sobbing. Coco wiped her own tears on the side, and facing the two weeping girls, Take was completely at a loss. She quickly shot pleading glances at Tettana and Kodo.

In the end, it was the doctor doing rounds who saved her. Take quickly left the ward with Tettana and Kodo.

Take wiped the sweat from her forehead. She had never been good at comforting people—when her cousin cried, she’d just wipe her tears or find something to distract her.

“We should go back and rest. Take, I’ve kept your room for you. Kodo can drive you home later,” Tettana said.

“What about you?” Take asked.

“I have things to do. You two go on ahead.” Tettana patted Kodo on the shoulder. “Kodo, make sure you bring Take home safely.”

“Yes, boss,” Kodo replied, winking. His handsome face made even the passing nurses blush.

Take and Kodo rode back together. The car was silent for a long time; Take wasn’t as familiar with Kodo as she was with the head chef, and didn’t know what to say.

Amid the awkward silence, Kodo spoke first. “Take, I’m really glad you’re back.”

“Thank you. I’m glad too,” Take replied awkwardly. Another silence followed.

“I heard all about it from Coco,” Kodo said.

“Oh? What did she say?” Take asked, confused.

“She said you bravely threw down a man much taller than you, then grabbed her and ran. Coco said that if she ever met a man who’d rescue her like you did, she’d marry him on the spot,” Kodo said jokingly.

“That’s a bit embarrassing,” Take chuckled.

“I agree with her.”

“Huh? Agree with what?”

“If I ever met a girl like you, I’d marry her.”

Take froze for several seconds before forcing a laugh. “Haha, is that so? Well, I hope you meet someone like that soon.”

“I already have. Take, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?” Kodo suddenly turned to look at her.

“…”

“Kodo, I’m sorry. I don’t like you that way—I can’t be your girlfriend,” Take refused him outright. She really didn’t feel that way about Kodo.

Kodo was downcast for a moment, but managed a smile. “I see. That was sudden. Maybe another time.”

“…”

They fell silent again. Luckily, they soon arrived at Take’s apartment.

“Thank you for the ride, Kodo. Goodbye,” Take said, quickly opening the door to get out.

“Take, I…” Kodo hesitated, then swallowed his words. “Never mind. Goodbye. Rest well.”

“Mm, goodbye,” Take replied, closing the door and leaving.

When she got home, she saw that Kodo’s car was still parked downstairs. Only when her lights finally turned on did he drive away.

Watching the car’s taillights recede, Take sighed. She really didn’t understand romance between men and women.

She spent the next two days quietly. She didn’t visit Tettana, Coco, or Nini. On the third day, she left a note in her apartment, along with all the money she’d earned on Kurota, to thank Tettana for her help.

Leaving the building she’d called home for so long, Take gazed up at it, reluctant to part. After a while, she took a taxi to the spaceport. When the driver learned her destination, he looked terrified and said he’d only take her nearby, not inside.

Take agreed. After half an hour, they reached the outskirts of the spaceport. From a distance, Take could see the massive, egg-shaped structure.

No sooner had she stepped out than the taxi sped away. Take walked toward the spaceport, remembering Kamui’s instructions: tell the guards she was looking for him.

But this place was truly unsettling. There were few Kurota natives here; most were Amanto, each looking fierce and predatory, their gazes like hooks.

Take bowed her head and hurried toward the entrance.

At the gate, two guards stopped her. “Pass, please.”

“I’m here for Captain Kamui,” Take said.

The guards sized her up. “Wait here.” One of them made a call.

Minutes later, a man approached. Take recognized him—he’d been with Kamui that night, another Yato.

“Come with me,” he said.

Take quickly followed him inside.

This was Kurota’s largest interstellar hub, the departure point for all ships, firmly under Harusame’s control.

Anyone leaving through the spaceport for business had to pay hefty fees to Harusame. Merchants coming to Kurota paid as well, driving prices of imported goods sky-high.

Take looked around. She’d been to Earth’s spaceport before—this one was larger, but less crowded, likely because Harusame monopolized it.

After riding the elevator to the fifth floor, the man led her to a certain office and knocked. Kamui’s voice came from inside. “Come in.”

The man gestured for Take to enter. She turned the handle and stepped inside.

Kamui sat amid piles of documents, smiling at her. Next to him sat Afuto, looking utterly miserable.

…

“Yaho,” Kamui greeted.

“Yo…” Take replied.